Suffering and Redemption

Recently a close friend revealed that he had been HIV+ for some time. The effects of the condition were making themselves apparent to the careful observer.

Frankly I am horrified by the idea of a lethal disease coursing through my veins. After all, blood is the most jealously guarded part of a human. No man has the right to spill another man's blood or even his own. A man's blood is so carefully guarded, so precious that in Judaic religion, only the blood of animals was spilled on behlf of men with the exception of use as punishment for some particularly serious acts.

As I sat by my friend in his discomfort I began to ponder a God who judges random people by poisoning their blood. After all, was I not guilty of every single act that could have led to this man's terminal condition? How did he wind up punished and me free from it all?

I went a little further and took the unpopular and politically incorrect step to determine the root of these acts. Is it not selfishness and self centeredness that leeds to these acts? I don't know the particular thing that led to my friend's infection, but knowing that drug use and promiscuity are particularly frequent causes of transmission, I carried on.

There is a long train of mental conversation to get to the point where I began to question myself for my perspective. I call myself a God-honoring man, so why would i instantly accuse God of unfair punishment.

Why am I assuming that God has judged my friend? Maybe my friend is being redeemed within his suffering? Of course it would be heresy to propose that HIV is a blood sacrifice capable of bringing salvation on its own. That could imply that the adulterer stoned at the gate 3000 years ago would have been snatched from certain hell by his own bloodshed. If that were the case he'd have been left to wait another 1000 years for the bloodshed of a God turned Man to absolutely redeem his soul.

Looking at the story of Job, we read of a man who was the most righteous in all the East. That story plays out quite well, with his three friends assiduously arguing that his disease and suffering were because of his sin, and Job just as clearly arguing of his own righteousness. Job's friends were convinced that he was suffering because he was even more sinful than they. Of course we have the perspective of "knowing better" while we read the story and our immediate response is to claim the story as an explanation for why good men suffer. We never get the answer we are looking for though.

Bring in a young guy who spoke up last. He's not mentioned in many stories, for some reason. His name is Elihu and here is what he had to say.

I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought, "Age should speak, advanced years should teach wisdom." But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. (Job 32:6-8) I waited while you [Job's three friends] spoke,I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words, I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his argument. (Job 32:11-12)

Elihu showed Job's friends that they were wrong in judging him. The second thing Elihu does is correct Job, but he does it in humility.

But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say. I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue. My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know. The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Answer me then, if you can; prepare yourself and confront me. I am just like you before God; I too have been taken from clay. No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy upon you. But you have said in my hearing--I heard the very words-- "I AM PURE AND WITHOUT SIN; I AM CLEAN AND FREE FROM GUILT.." (Job 33:1-9)

See, everyone is a sinner in God's sight. Paul writes, "...There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is not one who does good, not even one" (Romans 3:10-12).

So lets get back to my friend, or to the adulterer stoned in the gate. Does their shed blood have any quality to it?

Only the shedding of blood brings about remission of sins. Step back to the Tabernacle in the wilderness where the blood of the Atonement covered the Mercy seat and shielded the eyes of God's judgement from the evidence of mankind's sin. Because the shed blood of Created beings was insufficient, there was only Mercy. Move up to the Cross where God's own blood was shed and we come into an era of Grace.

2 Corinthians 8:9: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for you." He became poor through His Substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, and because of it, we have access into God's grace, which is far better than mercy

Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Notice that God's throne is the throne of "grace" not mercy. Yet at His throne people can receive both "mercy" and "grace." These are two different things. Unfortunately, most people are trying to receive mercy when they should be finding grace. Grace is better.

What's the difference between mercy and grace? Mercy is when God does not bring on you the punishment you deserve. Grace is when God brings on you the benefits that He paid for. The only similarity between grace and mercy is that both have to do with unmerited favor. However, mercy is not based on legal rights. Grace is!

This may seem to be a long way around, thinking wise, but it has been on my mind a lot lately. I would enjoy getting some input from those who can say more about the redemption of capital offenses.

Actually enjoy hearing comments from anyone!